Portuguese and Angolan air carriers, TAP and TAAG, are going to make eight more flights between Angola and Portugal at the end of July and in August, according to diplomatic sources and operators.
According to information provided by the Consulate of Portugal in Luanda, TAP flights are to be operated on the Luanda-Lisbon route on 29 and 31 July at 22:45, and those interested should contact the airlines or travel agencies.
TAAG also has several flights scheduled to connect Luanda to Lisbon. According to information from travel agencies, flights will be operated on July 28 and 30 and on August 6, 13, 20 and 27.
All passengers boarding these flights will have to undergo laboratory tests to screen for infection by Covid-19 beforehand, according to the recommendations of the Portuguese Consulate in Luanda.
“For reasons of health control, all passengers on these flights are now required to present a proof of laboratory test for screening for infection by SARS-CoV-2, with a negative result, carried out in the last 72 hours before boarding, otherwise they will be refused entry into the country,” said the Portuguese Consulate.
Domestic and foreign citizens with “residence in Portugal who exceptionally do not carry out the above test, will be subject, on arrival in national territory, to this test at their own expense,” warns the diplomatic representation of Portugal in Luanda.
However, “foreign citizens in transit through Portugal to their countries are exempt from submitting proof of the Covid-19 test, provided they do not leave the international area of the airport unless the worsening of the epidemiological situation so determines”, he adds.
The Portuguese authorities point out that in addition to citizens residing in the European Union and the Schengen area, “third-country nationals will also be allowed entry for professional reasons, study, family reunion, health or humanitarian reasons, in accordance with the principle of reciprocity”.
“These cases must be validated by the Consulate General of Portugal in Luanda, by sending the request to [email protected]”, says the entity.
Angola has kept all its borders closed since 20 March, only authorizing cargo flights or humanitarian flights to transport foreign citizens who wish to return to their country or repatriation of Angolans.
The country and the province of Luanda, the focus of the pandemic, are under a sanitary cordon, at least until 9 August.
